Noemi Van Meir obtained in 2021 her Master of Maritime and logistics management at the University of Antwerp. Since September 2020 she started working as a student on research concerning inland navigation. After obtaining her master’s degree, she started working as a researcher for the Department of Transport and Regional Economics (TPR) of the University of Antwerp in April 2021. Noemi obtained her Ph.D. in applied economics in 2025.Edwin van Hassel is Full Professor at the Department of Transport and Regional Economics, where he teaches various courses. He holds an engineering degree in naval architecture and has a PhD in applied economics. His main research interests and expertise lie in inland navigation, hinterland transport, ship design, and transport modeling. He is involved in various research projects, ranging from business projects to international initiatives, focusing on logistics, infrastructure cost-benefit analysis, and transport modeling.Thierry Vanelslander is Professor at the Department of Transport and Regional Economics of the University of Antwerp. He is currently course co-ordinator for the courses 'Port Economics and Business' at C-MAT, and 'Transport micro-economics' and ‘Maritime and Port Economics' at the Faculty of Business and Economics. His research focuses on business economics in the port and maritime sector, and in hinterland transport and urban logistics. He furthermore is chair of the SIGA2 Maritime and Ports and topic area manager Transport Modes within WCTR, and chair Freight & Logistics at ETC.